Stone hurls Fairfield Prep past Amity

Doug Bonjour

Updated 8:28 pm, Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Fairfield Prep catcher Jake Berry and Amity players Sebastian DiMauro and Anthony Capozziello, left, who slid into home plate, look to the call by the umpire, during opening day baseball action at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014. Capozziello was called out.

Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep catcher Jake Berry and Amity players Sebastian...

Fairfield Prep's Brett Stevenson starts to go into a tumble after making a catch in left field, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep's Brett Stevenson starts to go into a tumble after...

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball...

Fairfield Prep's Simon Whiteman, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Amity pitcher Nicholas Fusco, during opening day baseball action against Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Amity pitcher Nicholas Fusco, during opening day baseball action...

Amity's Matthew Ronah, during opening day baseball action against Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Amity's Matthew Ronah, during opening day baseball action against...

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.

Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball...

Amity Head Coach Sal Coppola, during opening day baseball action against Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Amity Head Coach Sal Coppola, during opening day baseball action...

Amity's Christopher Winkel heads to second, during opening day baseball action against Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Amity's Christopher Winkel heads to second, during opening day...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Fairfield Prep catcher Jake Berry confers with pitcher Kevin Stone, left, on the mound during opening day baseball action at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014. Capozziello was called out.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep's Austin Crane, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep's Austin Crane, during opening day baseball action...

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep pitcher Kevin Stone, during opening day baseball...

Amity pitcher Nicholas Fusco, during opening day baseball action against Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Amity pitcher Nicholas Fusco, during opening day baseball action...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Fairfield Prep catcher tags out Anthony Capozziello, left, as he slides into home plate, during opening day baseball action at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014. Capozziello was called out.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep catcher tags out Anthony Capozziello, left, as he...

Fairfield Prep catcher Jake Berry and Amity players Sebastian DiMauro and Anthony Capozziello, left, who slid into home plate, look to the call by the umpire, during opening day baseball action at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014. Capozziello was called out.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep catcher Jake Berry and Amity players Sebastian...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.

Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at...

Fairfield Prep's Brett Stevenson prepares to make a catch in left field, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep's Brett Stevenson prepares to make a catch in left...

Fairfield Prep's Brett Stevenson starts to go into a tumble after making a catch in left field, during opening day baseball action against Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Fairfield Prep's Brett Stevenson starts to go into a tumble after...

Opening day baseball action between Fairfield Prep and Amity at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday April 9, 2014.
Photo: Christian Abraham

FAIRFIELD -- Kevin Stone's first assignment of the 2014 season pitted him against the same team that eliminated Fairfield Prep in the LL semifinals last year.

As if opening against Amity -- the defending state champion and the No. 3 team in the baseball preseason poll -- wasn't difficult enough, the Jesuits ace was forced to work around a rough day in the field on Wednesday.

In trouble in the fifth inning with two on and no outs, Stone buckled down and stranded the potential tying run at third base. He spurned another threat later.

Stone scattered seven hits in a complete game as Prep edged Amity 3-2 in the season opener for both teams.

"It's just one of those things," Amity coach Sal Coppola said. "The kid beared down and was tough when he needed to be. You've got to give their pitcher credit."

Prep's Austin Crane led off the fifth with a bunt single, advanced to second on a throwing error and scored the go-ahead run later in the inning on a misplayed grounder.

The Jesuits made four errors, but a diving catch in left field by Brett Stevenson with two on in the fourth prevented Amity from taking a lead.

"If it wasn't for our left fielder defensively, we lose that game," Prep coach Rudy Mauritz said. "It's good to know that you can beat a good team."

Stone took the loss in last year's LL semifinal (3-2 Amity), but stymied the Spartans in his season debut. He struck out five and walked only one in a 98-pitch outing.

"Our game plan was just to establish the fastball early, get ahead in the count, keep them off-balance with the off-speed," Stone said.

The junior got sharper as the game progressed, retiring eight in a row from the fifth inning to the seventh.

Stone worked out of trouble in the seventh after a single and an error put two on with two outs. He coaxed Matthew Ronai into a grounder to shortstop to end it.

"He started getting the ball down, which is what he needs to do," Mauritz said. "You can't leave the ball up, especially against good hitters."

Prep -- the No. 10 team in the preseason state poll -- managed six hits off Amity starter Nick Fusco. Third baseman Simon Whiteman had the lone multi-hit game for the Jesuits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Jesuits plated two runs in the first inning on a Shawn Blake single and a double play. Amity tied it 2-2 in the third on a Jake Russo sacrifice fly and a two-out error.

Fusco went the distance for Amity, striking out three and walking none.

"He was really in command, I thought, throughout most of the game," Coppola said. "He deserved a little bit better."